Minn. Senate OKs 2012 vote on gay marriage ban

[Ian David]

Source: Associated Press (Via Times Union)

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — The state Senate on Wednesday approved a statewide vote in 2012 on a gay marriage ban in the Minnesota Constitution, pushing forward what's expected to be a contentious debate over the definition of legal unions.

The Senate voted 38-27 in favor of the marriage amendment, with one Democrat joining all Republicans in support. The state House is expected to vote on the issue soon, and passage is likely in the Republican-led chamber.

State law already confines marriage in Minnesota to one man and one woman. But supporters of that definition said the extra protection is needed to guard against judicial rulings like one that legalized gay marriage in Iowa in 2009. Critics said it would enshrine discrimination in the state's most important document, and that the debate between now and November 2012 would be divisive and a distraction from more important issues facing the state.

<snip>

A single Democrat, Sen. LeRoy Stumpf of Plummer, joined every Senate Republican in supporting the amendment. Democratic Gov. Mark Dayton has said he opposes the amendment, but governors can't block lawmakers from putting constitutional amendments on the ballot.


Read more: http://www.timesunion.com/news/article/Gay-marriage-ban-slated-for-Minn-Senate-vote-1374891.php

[sakabatou]

1. I can see Al Franken banging his head against a wall

[digitaln3rd]

2. Wow.

I'm glad that the economy is so good, the infrastructure is 100%, the budget isn't in the red, and everyone has top notch education, health care, and jobs that they have so much time to spend on this idiotic legislation.

[Iliyah]

3. This is all out assault on Gays,

women, children and basic rights. The gopers will go down in history of the party of hell no unless your are rich. And trying to change history to boot.

[SoapBox]

5. You are very correct.

...take a look at what the GOBPers, RushThugs and T.HATERbaggers have been up to in just the last few weeks.

Attacking millions of Americans, attempting to shut down, silence, restrict, dominate and all the like.

But...Where are those JOBS you Thugs promised????

[HankyDubs]

13. its an assault on gays of course, but

it's also a strategy for bringing out the right wing base to vote against Obama.

[forty6]

10. Yes, everything is perfect, you hadn't heard? Now it's time to

wage war on equal rights for gay American people, who are the real enemies of our Christian fundamentalist America!

<<SARCASM ALERT!>>>

[SoapBox]

4. "...Democrat, Sen. LeRoy Stumpf of Plummer joined every Senate Republican..." Can you say RECALL?

Can they start recall papers for this DINO?

[Bjorn Against]

8. We don't have recalls in MN

I do hope he gets primaried though.

[KamaAina]

6. Also known as the "Support Tourism in Northern Iowa Act".

Dummies. :dunce:

[Qutzupalotl]

7. If it passes the house and gets on the ballot, will it win or lose?

Will it draw R's to the polls as in years past, or has the tide turned in Minnesota?

[qb]

9. I hope the tide has turned... Haven't polls shown support for marriage equality exceeding 50%?

I would also expect most Minnesotans to be disgusted that in the midst of Minnesota's enormous budget crisis the GOPigs are wasting time & resources on this shit.

[Orangepeel]

11. what does a constitutional amendment need to pass in MN? 50% of the vote or more?

[dflprincess]

15. Just a simple majority (50%+1)

a 50/50 vote and the amendment would fail. It will be interesting to see how this is presented. In the past, if a voter doesn't bother to vote on an amendment, it counts as a "no" vote. I don't know if that is a legal requirement or something that can be changed based on the issue.

The 'Pukes are also trying to float an amendment that would require any bill that raises taxes to have a 60% vote in the legislature. This is because Republicans can't learn from the mistakes made in California.

I think there are a couple other items they're threatening to put on the ballot so that they can avoid Gov. Dayton. Basically, the Republicans are trying to turn Minnesota into a "mob rule" state.

[trayfoot]

12. Just a strategy in 2012 to get Minn. to go reTHUG.

[Odin2005]

14. This is ALL about getting the wackjob vote out, nothing more.

[LetTimmySmoke]

16. This 2012 vote is a fight we can win.

And a potential landmark victory that may further accelerate support for marriage equality.